these fad diets are just silly... there is no secret to lose weight... all you gotta do is exercise, count your calories, and quit eating junk food and soda... its that simple (unless you have genetic problems that lead to problems with weight loss)... i'm living proof baby!
My brother said he read an article from Readers Digest that stated drinking milk regularly with regular exercise helps reduce weight. Anyone know if it's true and the biophysics behind this? (At least you can use a breath mint for smelly breath. What can you use for that other smelly gas?)
I actually read that this isn't as important as it used to be, as long as it is healthy you can eat later, just most of the late night snacking is not healthy. An apple at 10pm is not bad for ya. mr_gootan - I usually eat cereal on the weekends and sometimes during the week if I get up in time. I use 1% or 1/2% milk and usually Raisin Bran or Cheerios, I don't know if milk promotes weight loss, but it very filling and not bad for you at low fat %, high in calcium and protein.
Isabel: Really good post overall. I just want to quibble with this line a bit. Technically, saturated or poly-unsaturated fats are the problem - anything that takes a high number of calories from fat like meat, fast food, etc and anything with hydrogenated oil. The monounsaturated fats like the fats found in nuts and things like extra virgin olive oil, peanut or soy bean oil can actually be good for you. I know you were being very general and, in general, you are right. Good post.
not eating past 6 or 7pm is merely another food myth... all that matters is calories consumed versus calories burned... time of day of calorie consumption has no effect on weight loss.
It seems like I'm about two weeks late here, but I wanted to add my experience with Atkins. Two years ago, I was weighing 275 pounds and had a belt size of 40 on my 6'1" frame. I was pretty large. Everything about my diet was bad. I ate to excess, I ate too many refined sugars, I ate a lot of breads, and I didn't take in enough greens. I was afraid to go to the doctor because of what I might find out. Then, I thought about living a long happy life with my newborn son, and decided to do something about it. Along with anaerobic free weight training, I did the Atkins diet and lost a total of 80 pounds, bringing my belt size down to a 34, my weight down to 195, but most important, my triglycerides and cholesterol level were extremely low (a good thing) after this change of eating lifestyle. After loosely following the diet for another year, I found my blood test results even better than before, and my weight hovering around 205-210. About a month and a half ago, I left the guidelines of the Atkins lifestyle and went back to my old ways of eating and I'm now at 220-225. Today, I restarted Atkins and I intend to stick to it again. I refuse to EVER get to 275 again, and my "buffer zone" would not go over 225. Here I am borderline 225, and after I get back down to about 205, I will reset my buffer zone cutoff to 215. On Atkins, you add carbs every week until you stop losing and then maintain that carb intake. Where you get those carbs is completely up to you. I like to eat at least one avocado a day to add the good cholesterol to my diet. I also eat tuna in oil (the omega oil counteracts the bad cholesterol) I did away with bread and tortillas until I can safely add them back within my carb allowance. I think I can say that I've almost mastered the Atkins lifestyle...Here's what I've eaten today so far... Breakfast--two eggs over easy, 1/2 lb barbq fajitas, 2 tbsp pace picante sauce, coffee--4 carbs Lunch--Tony Romas--Grilled Chicken and Rib Combo with French onion soup instead of carb rich sides.--Carbs from barbq sauce only Dinner will be a can of tuna with mayo and some pork rinds. --0 carbs. Snacks will be either a pickle or cantalope...depending on if I feel sour or sweet. I always drink diet Big Red or water at home...Tea w/ sweet n low at restaurants. With two years doing Atkins under my belt (pun intended), I know what I can eat and where I can eat it. My failsafe fallback is a Swiss Mushroom Avocado burger without the buns...
BWH, you asked for first hand experience with Atkins, and I have it. I first tried Atkins about 5 years ago. I'm not very big (tall) and I lost 25 pounds. The reason I got on it was a friend of mine who flies helicopters for the Nat'l Guard told me about. He said his flight surgeon in the guard recommended it. Said he had done a 180 from all the low-fat propaganda we have been bombarded with the last 20 years. Anyway, I kept the weight off for a long time (about 3 years). Yes, if you go back to eating the way you got fat in the first place, you will get fat again. Initially, my wife was very concerned about my cholesterol and triglycerides. After I had been on the diet about 8 months very stringently, I had a physical with full blood work. My doctor said my results were great, to keep doing what I was doing. My big downfall is sweets. When I was growing up, we had dessert at lunch and dinner and breakfast always included syrup or preserves. I slowly started eating more sweets and put some of the weight back on. A couple of months ago, I got back on it and took off about 10 pounds. I kind of bounce around within two or three pounds of what I lost. Okay, now to make Jeff gag. First of all, you don't have to give up beer. A can of Coors Light has 5 grams of carbs. Four cans a day would only add up to 20 grams. Also, ice cream basically has the fewest carbs of just about any sweets. A chocolate covered ice cream on a stick has from 12 to 17 grams, basically depending on the size. During the week, my diet basically consists of 4-5 cups of coffee with whipped cream or half and half for breakfast. A Wendy's cheesburger combo for lunch. and a bowl of ice cream for dinner. I will have an occasional can of beer during the week and more on the week-ends. I eat salads and green veggies. I know some people wouldn't even like my diet, but I do. I know I need to exercise more, but I do get some exercise. No one can say for sure what the long-term effects of the diet will be. I get a physical every year and the blood work always turns out very good. I'm not recommending it, but you asked for experiences.
I think you have a good base there and you don't have to go all the way to the Atkins diet to reap some benefits of it. If you are feeling foggy and tired you might try some small things to upgrade the food you eat. 1. Make sure you get some protein at breakfast. My personal fav is egg whites, but yoghurt would work well too. 2. Try varying your diet. I'm not a big fan of the subway thing because of the big lump of mostly white bread you are eating with it, but the important thing is to eat different foods to obtain a variety of nutrients. 3. Eat lots of veggies, get lots of sleep and drink water only. I've done well this year following a conglomeration of health ideas, but it has come down to a zone-type diet with 4 small meals. Doing this and some moderate exercise, I have lost 17 lbs and 4 inches off my waist since Feb. My diet is as follows: Breakfast (5:30 a.m.) 1/2 -3/4 cup oatmeal with skim milk and a little honey 1 piece of fruit 3 egg whites Lunch #1 (11:00 a.m.) 1/2 chicken thigh sandwich (lettuce, 1/2 slice cheese) 1 piece fruit Small bag of assorted veggies 1 cup of mixed fruit yoghurt (hand-mixed with fruit and fat-free yoghurt) Lunch #2 (2:30 p.m.) Same as above Dinner (7:00 p.m.) Small portion of meat/fish/poultry (zone size portion) medium serving of raw veggies (half my plate) 1-2 servings of fruit Basically, it's a lot of food, and I don't ever go hungry or have much in the way of cravings. I have great energy levels and don't usually even feel the need for caffeine at work (gave it up).
I would be interested to see how many of those who critiqued Atkins Diet had read the book. I've had a great experience with the diet. I've lost 35 pounds. So from my experience, at least, I'll share a few points. 1. Once you leave Atkins you gain the weight back. Uh, yeah. Once you start stuffing your face with potato chips, sweets, sodas, beer, gorge on pasta and bread you WILL gain the weight back. You could definitely come off of any nutritional change, go back to eating the way you were before, and gain the weight back. 2. Any diet that discourages fruit is obviously wrong. Atkins proposes you cut most carbs, including fruit for the first 10 days. After that the plan follows a succession of additions of carbs back into your diet until you can track how much your body needs to maintain, gain, or lose weight. Very similar to many food combining and alternative health advocates who say we should break down what we eat and how we combine foods by removing and re-adding foodstuff to isolate those that are bad for us for a myriad of reasons. Atkins would encourage you to eat berries (high anti-oxidants) instead of a ripe banana. He would encourage you to eat nuts and green veggies. Those are good things. 3. Every study known to man says its bad. Not true. A typical meal from Atkins could be a baked fillet of fish, asparagus tips, a green salad and a glass each of wine and water. Is that bad? If you'd like to point to specific studies that might be interesting. Even Andrew Weil agrees with a large portion of the Atkins diet. The core of the Atkins diet is 2 things: First, that we eat far too much of too many foods that cause our systems to have too much sugar. Second, the number one reason people fail to stay with nutritional changes is that they are hungry as they wait for their body to adapt, and that high protein foodstuffs are saciating (sp). 4. All meat all the time has got to be bad for you. Proteins include many things. Fish, shellfish, pork, chicken, beef, lamb, game, nuts, cheese, certain veggies. The diet is just as varied as every other meat eaters diet. The Atkins diet after the first ten days is much different than portrayed. I eat more green vegetables and fruit than I did before. The carb emphasis removed chips and bread and candy from my kitchen. I drink more water and less alcohol. I can go out whenever I want and have drinks and even eat high carb foods. I just don't continuously eat them. You can't drink a twelve pack a day and lose weight. Of course I think its definitely true that you must increase your excercise to see results and to be more healthy. Studies from Atkins website which suggests not ALL of them are anti-Atkins.... Amino Acid Oxidation and the Production of Urea," 1993, New York, Principles of Biochemistry, Lehninger, A.L. et al.(editors), Worth Publishers, 2nd ed, page 593. Bellomo, R., Seacombe, J., Daskalakis, M., et al., "A Prospective Comparative Study of Moderate Versus High Protein Intake for Critically Ill Patients With Acute Renal Failure," Renal Failure, 19(1), 1997, pages 111-120. Blum, M., Averbuch, M., Wolman, Y., et al., "Protein Intake and Kidney Function in Humans: Its Effect on 'Normal Aging'," Archives of Internal Medicine, 149(1), 1989, pages 211-212. Chang, Y.L., Sohn, H.S., Chan, K.C., et al., "Low Dietary Protein Impairs Blood Coagulation in BHE/cdb Rats," Journal of Nutrition, 127(7), 1997, pages 1279-1283. Dawson-Hughes, B., Harris, S.S., "Calcium Intake Influences the Association of Protein Intake With Rates of Bone Loss in Elderly Men and Women," The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 75(4), 2002, pages 773-779. Demling, R.H., DeSanti, L., "Effect of a Hypocaloric Diet, Increased Protein Intake and Resistance Training on Lean Mass Gains and Fat Mass Loss in Overweight Police Officers," Annals of Nutrition & Metabolism, 44(1), 2000, pages 21-29. Enns, C.W., Goldman, J.D., Cook, A., et al., "Trends in Food and Nutrient Intakes by Adults: NFCS 1977-78, CSFII 1989-91 and CSFII 1994-95," Family Economics and Nutrition Review, 10(4), 1997, pages 2-14. Forslund, A.H., El-Khoury, A.E., Olsson, R.M., et al., "Effect of Protein Intake and Physical Activity on 24-h Pattern and Rate of Macronutrient Utilization," American Journal of Physiology, 276(5 Pt1), 1999, pages 964-976. Heaney, R.P., "Dietary Protein and Phosphorous Do not Affect Calcium Absorption," The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 72(3), 2000, pages 758-761. Heaney, R.P., "Excess Dietary Protein May not Adversely Affect Bone," Journal of Nutrition, 128(6), 1998, pages 1054-1057. Lausen, B., "No Evidence for Dietary Protein and Dietary Salt as Main Factors of Calcium Excretion in Healthy Children and Adolescents," The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 69(4), 1999, pages 742-743. Moriguti, J.C., Ferriolli, E., Marchini, J.S., "Urinary Calcium Loss in Elderly Men on a Vegetable:Animal (1:1) High-Protein Diet," Gerontology, 45(5), 1999, pages 274-278. Riviere, S., Birlouez-Aragon, I., Vellas, B., "Plasma Protein Glycation in Alzheimer's Disease," Glycoconjugate Journal, 15(10), 1998, pages 1039-1042. Skov, A.R., Toubro, S., Bülow, J., et al., "Changes in Renal Function During Weight Loss Induced by High vs Low-Protein Low-Fat Diets in Overweight Subjects," International Journal of Obesity, 23, 1999, pages 1170-1177. Spencer, H., Kramer, L., "Osteoporosis, Calcium Requirement, and Factors Causing Calcium Loss," Clinical Geriatric Medicine, 3(2), 1987, pages 389-402. Spencer, H., Kramer, L., Osis, D., "Do Protein and Phosphorus Cause Calcium Loss?," Journal of Nutrition, 118(6), 1998, pages 657-660. Spencer, H., Kramer, L., Osis, D., et al., "Effect of a High Protein (Meat) Intake on Calcium Metabolism in Man," The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 31, 1978, pages 2167-2180. Wolfe, B.M., Piche, L.A., "Replacement of Carbohydrate by Protein in a Conventional-Fat Diet Reduces Cholesterol and Triglyceride Concentrations in Healthy Normolipidemic Subjects", Clinical and Investigative Medicine, 22(4), 1999, pages 140-148.
found this info today! Low-Carb Diets Tax Kidneys, May Weaken Bones Tue Aug 13, 2:36 PM ET NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Diets that are heavy on protein-rich foods and skimp on carbohydrates can increase the risk of kidney stones and reduce the body's ability to absorb calcium after just 6 weeks, researchers report. Their findings come at a time when an increasing number of Americans, seduced by anecdotal accounts of fast weight loss, are turning to low-carbohydrate, high-protein (LCHP) diets. With an estimated 50% of American adults either overweight or obese, many are looking for a surefire way to shed pounds. But while LCHP diets have been shown to get the pounds off in the near term, these diets are less successful over the long run and may even be hazardous to health, researchers warn. For one, protein-rich foods can be high in fat, which increases the risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes. A dearth of carbohydrate-rich foods such as fruits and vegetables can leave the body hungry for essential vitamins and minerals, while insufficient glucose (sugar) from carbohydrates, the body's preferred fuel source, can lead to fatigue and dizziness. And according to the new study, 6 weeks on an LCHP diet increased the acid load to the kidneys, raising the risk of kidney stones. Animal protein has been shown to boost urinary excretion of oxalate, a compound that combines with calcium and other compounds to form the deposits commonly known as kidney stones. At the same time, adults in the study had higher levels of calcium in their urine, suggesting a decreased absorption of the bone-building mineral and an increased risk of osteoporosis, according to the report in the August issue of the American Journal of Kidney Diseases. "Consumption of an LCHP diet for 6 weeks delivers a marked acid load to the kidney, increases the risk for stone formation, decreases estimated calcium balance, and may increase the risk for bone loss," write Dr. Shalini T. Reddy from the University of Chicago, Illinois, and colleagues. click for complete article
Take it from me, friends. You do NOT want kidney stones. I had one when I was nineteen. Most painful thing ever. Doctor likened it to natural childbirth, sans anesthetic. You're better off fat.
Jeff, are you sure about sobean oil, I thouht it was a poly and not a particularly heathy vege oil. Also, avocado I think is one of the best sources of healthy fat (monoun. I assume).
Posted from another thread a few days ago. I have started Sears' Zone diet for the specific reasons below. I have been on a low-fat high carb diet without significant improvement in my blood lipid profile over the last 3 years. I figure my success with the one below will determine if I go on Statins (drugs) within 10 years or so (I am 32). One very important point on all this is one-diet does not fit all. My wife has great HDL and low triglyerides (opposite of me) eating a similar diet wiht simialr exercise (moderate)--I have to be extra response in my own diet while she has a ton of leeway--such is life. Anyway, here is my post: While my overall cholesteral isn't terrible (199) and I am weight proportionate I am changing my diet to try to improve my horrid HDL (low good cholesterol, 37)/triglycerides (well over 300) ratio. I'll let you know how it turns out, but recent nuitrition studies are saying a low-fat, high carb calorie (lots of pasta, rice, breads) diet doesn't do the job for weight loss (if this is your goal) nor for most people like me trying to improve blood lipid profile. While I am not going to the Atkins philosophy--eat low to no carbs but all the protein and fat you want (including all the saturated fat you want--at least previous versions of this diet were gung ho for any protein and fat). I have started on this other one, Sears' Zone diet, referenced by Fat b*stard in Austin Powers III, but incenidently not my reason for trying it . In actuality the diet is fairly low fat (especially low in saturated fat [from meats] and hydrogenated oils[common processed oils like in most margarines] ), fairly low-moderate carbs (mostly from veges & fruits) and moderate-high protein (fish, skinless poultry, very low fat red meat cuts, soy products, egg whites, cottage cheese, etc.). In implementing the diet I have had to do a lot more changes than I thought given my existant low-fat diet wasn't getting results. For example, I have started mixing in protein power (no problem for me, you could mix whey/milk, soy or egg base protein powder to thinken skim milk if you want), saying no thanks to many foods I enjoy and thought were mostly innocent like fresh baked french bread, most breakfast cereals (I look mainly for high protein specialties), large quantities of pasta, baked lays and salsa (these all really hurt to give up--especially leaving fresh bread off my dinner plate), and bring high protein snacks to work (e.g., tuna salad on a slice of rye, Turkey Jerky, smoked Salmon, any other suggestions would be appreciated???). I guess when I eat out I'll go to more chicken salads and fish/low-fat meat dishes with extra vegies in place of the rice, potatoe, and/or bread. I'll let you know how it works of out for--again in charting my food I really realize how much extra carbos and minimal protein I was getting in my previous strait fat minimization diet, I'll go back for further tests in about 6 weeks.
I'd like to thank everyone here for posting facts about the Atkins diet in this thread. It's funny b/c everywhere I have been looking it states that it has a high probability of health issues associated to it, but if you go on the Atkin's diet website, they state how it lowers cholesterol and many other attributes that every other source I see disputes. I started the Atkins diet on Sunday evening. By Tuesday morning, I felt I was on low grade X (not that I've ever taken X before ). Frankly, this diet scares the **** out of me and I will now try to do this the old fashioned way. Its only 70 lbs - a cakewalk (mmmm...cake). Wish me luck.
This could be a first. I agree with Hayes. Low carbohydrate diets work. As a matter of fact I started Atkins last Saturday. I'm dong fine. I'm just using Atkins type severe carbo redution as a start. It kills your hunger dead in just three days or so. Studies show that 98% of all dieters gain their weight back with a ouple of years, so all the other diets have the same problem. The Zone is a much more moderate version of the diet. Atkins has 20 gms of carbos per day for the first two weeks. Then roughly 40-60 per day till you lose all your weight. The maintenance lifestyle diet is as many as you can eat without getting into craving carbos and gaining weight. It varies for each person and depends on suh factors as genetics, exercise level and amount of fiber eaten and other factors. On the Zone your average male the ration is 36 gms carbo to 28 gms protein to 6 gms of fat for each of three meals with two snacks that toghether add up to half a meal. It is essentially a low fat and low arbolhydrate diet. The point behind all of these diets is that while 3500 calories might add up to a pound of weight gain, a calorie is not a calorie for purposes of hunger control for many people. Carbos make many people hungry. According to Sears of the Zone diet, some people can eat a lots of carbos without feeling hungry and like binging on carbos; some can't. Some can eat one piece of chocolate cake and feel satsified; some keep eating it till they are almost sick at their stomach or with disciplihne resist the strong temptation tod do so. I know without a doubt that a hgih carbo low fat diet of the vegan or typical vegetarian type left me craving food 24 hours a day. I have friends who have followed these diets for years and can go along fine. A diet of largely beAN burritos and the like leaves me constantly hungry and therefore I eventually gain weight. The vast majority of those who take the "just eat a little bit less of everything" line are people who have never had a real weight problem. They don't have the problems of the "carbohydrate addicts". Don't be afraid of low carbo diets if you need to lose weight. It might be the only thing that works for you. Try the Zone if you want a diet that restrits carbos. Several dotors including the one I used to have approve of it.
Atkins diet is a huge scam. Easy way out for people who are too freakin LAZY to exercise. The easy way out in life always has consequences later on, in this case it's all about potentially weakening the functionality of your kidneys, sending your cholesterol through the roof, and increasing the potential for heart disease. To lose weight, the real key is to boost your metabolism. You don't need to try some psycho fad diet when you can eat healthy and lose weight easily. Steps to increase your metabolism: 1) Drink as much water in a day as possible: This helps optimize metabolism and keeps you more full. Eat fruits too as they have water. 2) ALWAYS eat breakfast: If you don't eat a nutritious breakfast, your basal metabolic rate will be slower during the day. Many people screw this up 3) Eat several small-mid sized meals a day. Each time you eat, your metabolism rises. 4) Exercise: exercising (cardio or weight training) also boosts your metabolism. If you do cardio early in the morning, you are very likely to burn pure fat. Also, by adding muscle through weight training, you can really boost your metabolism. -A plan like this well help you lower your BodyFat% and preserve your lean mass. With the fad diets, you never know what you are really losing (most cause a loss of a lot of water weight and some muscle loss) Once you increase your basal metabolic rate, you'll even be able to splurge every now and then while eating healthy for the most part and not put on any fat. That's the key to LONG TERM PERMANENT weight loss, not some lamea$$ fad diet which is completely counterintuitive.
Each of the four things you listed are consistent with a low carb nutritional change. Hey now! I thought we agreed we wouldn't support FARC?
First of all, thank you for insulting all that have succeeded on the Atkins diet or any "lamea$$ fad diet" for that matter. Personally, I feel very relieved that we have an expert on this board that knows what will work for everyone in every situation. Almost everything you do has "potential" drawbacks. There are few eating styles that do not have "potential" drawbacks. Drinking sufficient water is great advice. Eating is lot of fruit because they have a lot of water is potentially dangerous for a diabetic. I may be the exception, but my blood tests for the last two years have been outstanding. My cholesterol level was under 150, and all my blood work, including kidney enzymes were well within the parameters of good health. Just because you eat protein rich foods does not mean you will have high cholesterol. Just because you are on Atkins does not mean that you have to get rid of carbs in your diet. It mostly calls for the removal of processed sugars and flour. Get rid of the sugars and breads, and what's left? Meats and veggies. Yes, it's that simple. Of course, the first two weeks call for an extreme version of the lifestyle, but you add you fruits and veggies gradually and within reason. To counteract the bad cholesterol foods, you eat a variety of good cholesterol foods. It just takes a little thought. But again, I'd like to thank you for your condescending tone and demeaning manners.
B-ball freak, try the Zone diet if the first two weeks of Atkins were too much. I did it for about 9 months and lost 40 pounds. Eventually I started craving more carbos and I went off it. The answer I now believe is to try to nip this in the bud with a severe carbo fast (Atkin?) for a few days to decrease the cravings. A book called Protein Power advocates this type of idea. I don't know if I can find it, but even a recent issue of Consumer's Digest or Report that I saw at a newstand said that the nutritional establishment is starting to change their ideas on the low fat, relatively low protein, high carbo approach that was pushed by them in recent years. They cite the hunger that these diets don't satisfy. The Zone isa low saturated fat, low carbohydrate diet relatively high in protein. It also has controlled portions. It is essentially a low calorie diet that many find more filling and hence more sustainable than weight watchers and all the diets that preach just a little bit less of everything. I've tried the typical weight watchers diets and have become even more obsessed with food, counting the minutes to my next snack or small meal. The discipine to not eat with sustained great hunger can only last for so many days or occasionally months. The weight comes back on very quickly after the "jail break" from these diets.
